of cleveland



Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,108

w. B. CHURCHER ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM Filed June 26, 1926 INVENTOR BY i 1 .5 J ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 12, 1929.

WILLIAM B. CHURCHER, F CLEVELAND,

OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO, THE WHITE MOTOR COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION'OF OHIO.

ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEM.

Application filedJ'nne 26,

My invention relates to ignition, systems and relates particularly to ignition systems for internal combustion engines, such as automotive engines. It has been found very desirable in internal combustion engines, in order to accomplish efhcient ignition of the hydro-carbon charge in internal combustion engine cylinders, to place in each of such cylinders a plurality of spark plugs, the firing 0 points of which are spaced from; each other.

Many attempts have been made to evolve a satisfactory ignition system to ignite, the

charge in such a; cylinderat a plurality of firing points disposed therein, but sov tar as 5 I am aware, such attempts have not resulted in as high a, degree of efliciency in ignition as might be expected.

I find that thefailures to secure theoreti cally possible maximum efficiency of ignition under such conditions maybe accounted for by deficiencies inthe s stem of supply otignition current to-the points oftheplurality of spark plugs employed witheach suchcylinder.

In my, present invention, therefore, I seek to evolve a system ofcurrentsupply for a plurality of preferably spaced; tiring points disposed Within the same engine cylinder, wherein the disabilities encountered in the making of prior attempts to solve the problem are entirely removed, such disabilities comprising variants in timing of the ignition at the dillerent spark gap firing points, an

undesirable decreasein intensity or heating 35, efiect, accomplished at, thefiringpoints and the like.

Another object ofmy inventi'onisto provide a firing system foran automotive engine cylinder, comprising means operable to accomplish an efficient ignition effect at a plurality of spark plug gaps, simultaneously.

Another object of my invention is; to provide a system of the above type, which although: efiicient in operation will yet berelativelyinexpensive to construct and? install.

Otherobjects of my invention and themvention itself will become apparent by reference to thetgollowing description of an embodiment of my invention, and which embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings a Fig, 1 shows, diagrammatically, a system embodying the principles of my invention;

Fi 2 shows a plan view at a condenser 1926. Serial No. 118,635.

which may be employed in the said embodimerit;

Fig. 3 shows, in abnormally spaced relation, elements of the said condenser;

Figs. 4- and 5 show-plan views of a copper disk. and mica disk, respectively, employed in the condenser of the foregoing embodiment; and V Fig. 6 shows another embodiment, diagrammatically, of a system embodying the principles of my invention.

Referring now to the difierent figures of drawing and particularly to Fig. 1, at 1, I illustrate, diagrammatically, a source of electrical current herein diagrammatically illustrated as being a magneto generator, and at 2, I show a pair of timer contact points, which are continuously operated during the operation of the engine by a breaker cam element 3 driven from a moving engine part, a condenser 4: being'shunted aroundthe breaker points 2 in the usual manner.

A switch 5, capable of short circuiting the termnalconductors .6 and 7 of the magneto, is provided for the purpose of disabling the ignition; system whenever it; is desired to discontinue the operation of the engine, in the usual way. At81and 9, I show a pair of spark coil primary windings serially connected together across the-terminal conductors 6 and 7 of themagneto generator. Separate secondary windingslO and 11 are provided for the primary. windings 8 and 9, respectively, and eachhave a terminal grounded to one of the circuit conductors. 6 or 7 and the other terminal: leading to afiring point, such as .12 for the secondary winding 1 .0, and 18 for-the secondary winding 11, of difierent spark plugs 14 and 1'5, which are disposedin spacedrelation in the same engine cylinder, not shown inithe drawing. Each of: the spark plugs has I a; firing point 15 which is. connected to the ground, so-called; thatis, the frame of the engine.

Between the points. 16, 17 and 18, representing; the terminals-of the primary windings Sandi) of-the two separate spark coils 19 and" 20, I interpose terminals 21, 22 and 23, Fig. 2, or preferably a three electrode condenser, whereby-the effect of a condenser shunted; across. each individual spark coil primary winding will be had. A separate iron wire or laminated iron core at will be provided for each of the spark coils. l9 and 20. The: eirenitconnecticns: disposition 11a they may be placed at right angles each to the other; and they may be magnetically shielded such has not been illustrated,

each from the other to insure that neither will accomplish an electrical efi ect on the other.

It will be seen that by this construction a comiiionbreaker having a single set of points 2 will be regularly short circuiting the mag neto winding, across the terminals of which the primary windings oi' the spark coils 19 V and 20 are connected, that each will receive substantially the same exciting current 1mpulse, the primaries being serially connected,

but that because of the employment of sepa-' rate cores for the spark coils, the spacing of the same and the separate secondary windings therefonno inductive effect Will be had between them. Theluse of the condenser, il-

lustrated more specifically in Figs. 2 and 3,

contributes'to this effect; Both spark coils will receive full exicting current and will effect simultaneous firing at their respective spark plugs. 1

It will be understood also that although the usual distributor mechanism maybe interposed in-the circuit conductor leading to each of the spark plugs lt and 15, respectively, at the points and 26, in order to predetermine in the usual way the particular cylinder tobe fired at a given time. 'It willbe understood that such distributors at 25 and 26 interconnect their respective secondary spark coil windings to aspark plug of a'particular cylinder of the engine, and then in'sequence interconnect such a secondary winding to the spark "plugs of other engine cylinders.

5 In Fig. 6, I show an arrangement of this kind, wherein from thesecondary winding 10, the ignition circuit passes to a revolvable arm 27 of a distributor mechanism extend- ;ing circuit of thesecondary winding toterminals 28, 29, 30 and 31, which in 'turn'are electrically connected to spark plugs .32, 33, 3e and in sequence, the direction of rotation of the arm 27 being in'dicatedby the arrow. Atthe same time, a second distributor having an arm37 electrically connected to the secondary winding 11 extends thecircuit therefrom through'terminals 38, 39, 40 and 4:1,se'quentially, which in turn are connected,1

respectively, to spark plugs 42, 43, 44 and 45, respectively. i The arms 37 and 27 are preferably mounted on the sameshaft and rotate together, and the'spark plugs 33 and 43 are disposedin the any desired larger number,

spaces of 1.20 degrees,

timer breaker having their any other desirable firing order maybe like wise had. 7 a I I find that such an arrangement as above described operates eficiently, the firing being had at both of the spark plugs of a pairproje'cted within the same'cylinder, simultaneously, and a spark of full strength is obtained under such conditions from each spark plug.

The condenserwhich I. prefer to usein connection with my invention is one comprising a plurality of interleaved disks, each disk having a lateral terminal projection, the. disks ofwhich may be three in number or but preferably in multiple of three, and there being insuch a condenser, three condenser electrodes having their terminals disposed radially at as illustrated, Fig. 2. Each of said terminals may comprise the laterally projecting extensions of a plurality of disks spaced from each other, however, by interposed trodes, and bydi-electric material, such as inthe form of mica disks, interposed between each pair of successive electrode disks.

,Fig 3 shows such a condenser of three disks only, wherein at v51, 52 and 53 are shown three spaced electrode disks, each spaced from the other'by disks of mica or other (ii-electric material shown at 54,there being preferably, at the top and bottom of the superposed disks, material to insulate the outer disksfrom extraneous objects. A machine screw.56 and a nut 57 adapted to be placed on the end of the machine screw passes through axial openings of the electrode and insulating disks to secure them together, and may be employed likewiseto-secu're the condenser to a support. Having thus described my invention in a specific embodiment, I; am aware that numerous] and "extensive departures may be made from the embodiment herein illustrated and described butwithout departing I claim '1' V 1. In an electrical ignition system, the combination with a magneto generator, a pair of discharge circuit conductors therefor,- contact'points' bridged across said pair of conductors, a pair of spark coils non-inductively related each to the other and primary windings serially connected across said timer terminals, and a separate high tension winding for each spark coil, each adapted to supplyhigh tension electrical ignition impulses to a separate ignition circuit simultaneously with, but independently of the -otherhigh tension coil. 7

from the spirit of-myii' vention.

disks of the other two elec- 7 disks 55 of insulating I 2. In an electrical ignition system, the combination with a magneto generator, a pair of discharge circuit conductors therefor, timer breaker contact points bridged across said pair of conductors, a pair of spark coils non-inductively related each to the other and having their primary windings serially connected across said timer terminals, and a separate high tension winding for each spark coil, each adapted to supply high tension electrical ignition impulses to a separate ignition circuit simultaneously with, but independently of the other high tension coil, and a separate capacitance unit connected in multiple With each primary winding. 7

3. In an electrical ignition system, the combination with a magneto generator, a pair of discharge circuit conductors therefor, timer breaker contact points bridged across said pair of conductors, a pair of spark coils non-inductively related each tothe other and having their primary windings serially connected across said timer terminals, a separate high tension winding for each spark coil, each adapted to supply high tension electrical ignition impulses to a separate ignition circuit simultaneously with, but independently of the other high tension coil, and a L ri-electrode condenser having a pair of outer electrodes and an intermediate electrode, said intermediate electrode adapted to substantially completely electrically shield each of the outer electrodes from the other, and circuit conductors leading from said electrodes to different terminals of said primary windings, the intermediate electrode being connected to the junction of said primary windings.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 9th day of June, 1926.

WILLIAM B. CHURCHER. 

